Internal-combustion engine



J. w. VAN METER. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG1Z.1919. 1,361,648, Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- ;n; Z if 20X .10" immimi 4 w @SIHEJH}?! y 4 T'T'" 1i I41 4 16 5 5 48 4 ir'i 5 B 7 4 1 l 18 Z f v 4% WITNESS I INVENTOR ATTORNE YS J. W. VAN METER.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED AUGJ. 1919;

1,361,648, Patented Dec. 7,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESS IN VENTOR ,hw a )h/; BY M VM A TTORNE YS I. W.VAN METER.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ, I9I9.

1,361,648, Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- A TTOR NE YS for reciprocative enl arged and formsUNITED STATES JAMES W. VAN METER,

OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS C.

MOORE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

concern: Be it known that I, JAMns W. VAN METER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing'at the city and county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inInternal- Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates tow the class ofinternal-combustion-engines.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, compact, andeconomical engine adapted for any purpose, but especially for use inconnection with a machine or device to which the power of the engine isto be applied directly, as-for example a direct connection of itsreciprocative member with To all whom it may the reciprocating rod of apump, or with the hammer of a pile driver.

To this end, my invention consists novel internal-combustionengine, a ndthe construction, arrangement and tion of the parts thereof, as I shallhereinafter fully set forth in the following specification, and shallpoint out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, a form of my invention, which I deem thebest, is illustrated, though it must be understood that, within thescope of my claims, changes in form, construction and arrangement may bemade without departing from the invention.

In these drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of my engine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the same taken from the side opposite to thatof Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the cylinder taken through the valveshell, the frame of the engine being omitted.

Fig -5 is a vertical section, enlarged, of the'fuel pump and itsconnections.

'1 is a base frame within which is fitted movement the cylinder 2,

3 of which is exteriorly a sliding fit and guide with the interior wallsof the frame, 1.

1 The cylinder 2 projects from and reciprocates through the top of theframe. and the upper end of said cylinder is fitted with a head i.

The bore of the cylinder 2. at its lower in the the lower portionportion. is interiorlycontracted as shown in Figs. 2. and 4 thus forminga reduced bore 2 which joins the main bore at a shoulder 5. The lower--portion ofthe cylinderis Specification of Letters Patent.

I :ieing of smaller comhina- 7 base of the cylinder bore 2 is formed anand is discharged through a valved port 1.)

. air reservoir .18 in the '17, compressed air is a the frame 1 ispressed air from any PatentedDec. 7,1920.

Application filed August 7, 1919. Serial No. 315,889.

water-jacketed at 6, the water entering at 7 and discharging at 8(Fig. 1) from'suitable flexible connections, not shown. 9-is a pistonupon and over which the cylinder 2 reciprocates.

This piston has three functioning heads indicated in Figs. 2 and 4: by10, which is the upper one, 11, the lower one, and 12, the interveningone. These heads are fitted with packing rings 13, the upper head 10 andintervening head 12 being of the same diameter and fitting the largerportion of and the lower head 11, diameter and fitting the smaller bore2' of the cylinder.

The piston 9 is fixed in position by a cross the cylinder bore,

pin 14, seated in the top of the frame 1, sald pin passing through thepiston,

the cylinder 2 being slotted over the pin. 7'

Between the intervening head 12 of the piston and the internal shoulder5 of the cylinder is formed an air cushion chamber 15.

Betweenthe lower piston head 11 and the explosion chamber 16.

Between the upper piston head 10 and the head 4. of the cylinder isformed a compressed air chamber 17.

A ir to the cushion chamber 15 is admitted from the outer atmc spherethrough a valved port 15 in the cylinder at one side (Fig. 4)

at the other side. sald port delivering into a flexible hose 18 leadinginto a compressed frame .1, as presently des ribed.

T o the compressed explosion chamber 16, fuel "and air forming anexplosive TlllX- (Fig. ,4), the products of explosion "being dischargedthrough said duct as will be hereinafter described. 7

To and from the compressed air chamber the cylinder wall charged thrcuyh a duct 17 1119' duct 17 in the piston cross pin 14.

By reference to Fig. 2-. it will be seenthat formed with an internalreservoir 18 which is fitted'with a charging dmitted and dis ture, a eadmitted through a duct 16" in (Fig. 2) in the piston and its head 1 anda communicatconnection 18, by which it may be imtially suppliedandreplenished with comsuitable source, not

necessary to show. Replenishing of the reservoir is also had by means ofair com--- pressed in and delivered from the cushion chamber 15 throughthe hose 18.

With the reservoir-communicates an outlet connection 19 fitted with anoutwardly opening check valve 19 and with a regu 'lating valve 19",Figs. 2 and 1.

Also with the reservoir 18 communicates an inlet connection 20, fittedwith an in wardly opening check valve 20 and with a re ulating valve20".

oth connections 19 and 20 communicate with a pipe 21, the other end ofwhich connects with the duct 17 in the piston crosspin 14.

In the upper portion of the pipe 21 is fitted a three way cook 22,adapted to close the pipe, or to open it to the duct 17" or to vent theair through a port 23 at will.-

Secured to the lower portion of the cylinder 2, Fig. 1, is an open-endedvalve-shell 24, which communicates with the duct 16" leading into theexplosion chamber 16.

Compressed air from the reservoir 18 in the frame 1, is admitted to thisvalve-shell by a flexible hose 25, Fig. .3, and fuel is also admitted tothe valve shell by the flexible hose '16 (Figs. 1 and 3) which joins thehose 25.

lVithin the valve shell is fitted for reciprocative action an hour-glasspiston valve 26, which by its movement, successively and timely controlsthe communication of said shell with the duct 16 and also controls thejoint communication of the compressed air hose 25 and the fuel hose 16and the discharge of the products of combustion as will presentlyappear.

Rising from the piston valve 26 is a stem 27, which carries a collar 28,above which is a collar 29, with still another collar 30 above, andfinally a top collar 31.

Between the top collar 31 and a stop 32 of i the frame 1, is a spring33. Between said frame stop 32 and the collar 30 is a spring '34.

Extending from the side of the cylinder 2 IS a fixed stop 35 which hesbetween the collars 30 and 29 and serves in conjunction with saidcollars to define the stroke limits of the stem 27 and its plston valve26.

Referring now to Fig. 8, there is pivoted.

' to the cylinder 2 at 36, a T-shaped lever 37 1 the extremity of theleg of which is provided with a catch 38, adapted to engage the stemcollar 28, either above or below, as thecase frame 1, and the other armof said lever is may be, according to the relative position of thecylinder and valve stem.

According also to the relative position of the cylinder 2 and frame 1,one arm of the T-shaped lever 37 is adapted to make and break contactwith, a fixed stop 39 in the "adaptedto make and break contactwithanother fixed stop/10 in said frame 1.

' A spring 41 controls the T-shaped lever 87.

In Fig. 1, 12is a pump secured to the.

asits shoulder 5 frame 1. This pump has a valve-controlled inletconnection 418 with a source of liquid fuel, not shown. It has also theflexibledischarge connection 16 with the air hose 25 of the valve shell24, which latter communicates through the duct 16 with the combustionchamber 16 as heretofore mentioned.

This pump is shown more in detail in Fig. 5. It has a piston 42 normallycutting off the passage of the fuel, and is provided with a downwardlyprojecting stem 44, passing through a stuffing gland 4:5. With theprojecting end of this stem, a lug 46 on the cylinder is adapted tocontact. The upper portion of the pump barrel, above the piston has aconnection 417 with the compressed air reservoir in the fixed frame 1.

In Fig. 1 is indicated the electric and ignition system comprising thecontact 48, contact 40, circuit wires 50 and spark plug 51 in thecombustion chamber.

The switch is automatically operated by the lug -16 on the cylinder.

The connection 52 with the lower end of the cylinder, may indicate therod of any machine or device, to which the power of the reciprocativecylinder of the engine is to be transmitted.

As I have herein illustrated my engine vertically disposed, I shalldescribe its operation in terms of vertical position, though it is to beunderstood that it may occupy a horizontal or any other position.

The operation of the engine is as follows:

Assume the cylinder to be at the limit of its downward stroke, and thevalve-shell 2 1 primed with a charge of fuel, which priming may beconveniently done by a manual operation of the piston stem 44 of thefuel pump 42, and assume also the reservoir 18 in the frame 1 to becharged with compressed air. Both regulating valves 19 and 20 are nowopened, and the compressed air from the reservoir 18 passes out throughcheck valve 19, through regulating valves 19 and 20 pipe 21 and ducts 17and 17 into the chamber 17 in the top of the cylinder, above theuppermost head 10 of the fixed piston.- Under the pressure of this airthus admitted to chamber 17 the cylinder 2 will rise. During thisupstroke, the cylinder will compress the air in the cushion chamberapproaches the piston head 12 and force said air out through the hose 18into the reservoir 18. Also the lug 16 of the rising cylinder will, bycontact with the rod H of the fuel pump 42, lift the pump piston 12 anddraw into the pump, through connection 13, a fresh supply of fuel. 'Alsoduring this strokethe spring 34 of the piston-valve stem 27 will becompressed by the collar 30 against the frame stop 32. Also the long armof the T-shaped lever 37 will come in contact with the fixed framestop39 whereby the catch '38yofsaid ,leverwill be s rung from under thecollar 28 of the valvestem. By thus releasing the catch 38, thecompressc spring forces down the valvestun 27 and its piston valve 26 sothat the 5 valve now connects the air-inlet hose with i ct 16 and thuscompressed air from c-voir 18 will pass into the combustion chamber 16,carrying with it the charge of fuel with which the valve-shell 24: hadacen primed initially. The lug e6 on the uprising cylinder 2, nowcontacts with the electric switch member 4K8 and closes the switch andthe circuit to the spark-plug 51 and explodes the mixture in thecombustion chamber.

Under the force of the explosion the cylnder 2 now moves on its downstroke, and up; 46 descending, allows the piston 42 V 1e pump 42 todrive into the valve-shell 20 i; through the hose 16', a fresh charge ofuel. During this stroke i draws a fresh ipply of air into the cushionchamber i it forces the air from the upper cham- 17 back into thereservoir 18 through inwardly opening check valve 20. Durthis downstrolie, also, the upper spring 3 of the valve stem 27 is compressedagainst '1 e frame stop 32, and the short arm of the T-shaped lever 37,the leg-catch 38 of which had previously dropped in above the collar 28,to hold the valve stem down, comes in contact with the frame stop d0whereby the catch 38 is swung back from above said col lar 2S, herebyallowing the compressed up per spring 33 to lift the valve stem 27 andits valve 26, the latter rising to a position to cut the air inlet andopen the duct 16" to permit the exhaust gases from the combustionchamber to pass out through the open lower end of the valve-shell 2d. Atthe end of the down stroke, the compressed air from reservoir 18 againenters the upper chamber 17 and the operation is repeated.

The valve 19 and 20 are for regulating the speed, one regulating theupper and the other the down stroke.

lclaim:

1. An internal combustion engine coin-- prisinpa frame; a cylindermounted in said ramo Io reciproc tive movement relatively "co, saidcylinder at one end having a uCGCl bore; piston fixed to the frame ndfitted within the cylinder, said piston l I V pair of spaced headsfitting the larger bore of the cylinder and forming, in conjunction withthe ends of said. larger core, a pair of air chambers, said pistonhaving also third head fitting the reducer bore 69 of the cylinders andforming, in conjunction with the of said reduced bore, a combustionchamber; means for admitting air to one of said air chambers to form acushion therein; ans for supplying the-oth r of air chambers withcompressed air and exhausting the same therefrom; means for supplyingthe combustion chamber with an explosive mixture; and means forexploding said mixture.

2. An internal combustion engine com prising a frame having a chamberforming a reservoir for compressed air; a cylinder mounted in said framefor reciprocative movement relatively thereto, said cylinder at one endhaving a reduced bore: a piston fixed to the frame and inder, saidpiston having a pair of spaced heads fitting the larger bore of thecylinder and forming, in conjunction with the ends of said larger bore,a pair of air chambers, said piston having also a third head fitting thereduced bore of the cylinder and forming, in conjunction with the baseof said reduced bore, a combustion chamber; means for admitting air toone of said air chamhers to form a cushion and exhausting the same intothe frame reservoir; check-valve controlled connections to and from thecompressed air reservoir in the frame to and from the other of said airchambers; means for supplying the combustion chamber with an explosivemixture; and means for exploding said mixture.

3. An internal combustion engine comprising a frame having a a reservoirfor compressed air; a cylinder mounted in said frame for reciprocativemovement relatively thereto, said cylinder at one end having a reducedbore; a piston fixed to the frame and fitted within the cylinder, saidpiston having a pair of spaced heads fitting the larger bore of thecylinder, and forming in conjunction with the ends of said larger bore,a pair of air'chambers, said piston having also a third head fitting thereduced bore of the cylinder and forming, in conjunction with the baseof said reduced bore, a combustion chamber; means for admitting air toone of said air chambers to form a cushion and exhausting the same intothe frame reservoir;check-valve controlled connections to and from thecompressed air reservoir in the frame to and from the other of said airchambers; means for regulating said connections; means for supplying thecombustion chamber with an explosive mixture; and means for explodingsaid mixture.

t. An internal combustion engine comprising a frame having a chamberforming a reservoir for compressed air; a cylinder mounted in said framefor reciprocative movement relatively thereto, said cylinder having atone end a reduced bore: a piston fitted within the cylinder and fixed bya cross pin to the end of the frame, said. piston having a pair ofspaced heads fitting the larger bore of the cylinder and forminconjunction with the ends of said a pair of air chambers, said. athirdhead fitting. the

larger bore, piston having also fitted within the cyl- V chamberforming.

reduced bore of the cylinder and forming, in conjunction with the baseof said reduced bore, a combustion chamber; means for admitting air toone of said air chambers to form a cushion and exhausting the sameinto-the frame reservoir; an air duct lending into the cross pin of thepiston and through said piston and one of its heads into the other ofsaid air chambers; a pipe communicating with said duct, valve controlledinlet and outlet connections between said pipe and the compressed airres rvoir in the frame; means for supplying the combustion chamber withan explosive mixture; and means for exploding said mixture.

5. An internal combustion engine comprising a frame; a cylinder mountedin said frame for reciprocative movement relatively thereto, saidcylinder at one end having a reduced bore; a piston fixed to the frameand fitted within the cylinder, said piston having a pair of spacedheads fitting the larger bore of the cylinder and forming, inconjunction with the ends of said larger bore, a pair of air chambers,said piston having also a third head fitting the reduced bore of thecylinder and forming in con junction with the base of said reduced bore,a combustion chamber; means for supplying to and exhausting from one ofsaid chambers a cushion of air; means for supplying to and exhaustingfrom the other of sa id chambers, compressed air; means for supplyingthe combustion chamber with compressed air, comprising a connection froma source of compressed air, a valve shell carried by the cylinder, avalve in said shell controlling said connection, said valve having astem, springs on the stem for reciproeating it and stops on the stem andfixed frame for automatically calling into operation said springs tomove the valve in time with the cylinder strokes; means for supplyingthe combustion chamber with fuel to form with the compressed air anexplosive mixture; and means actuated by the stroke of the cylinder forexploding said mixture.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylindermember and a piston member one movable relatively to the other, andforming a combustion chamber between them; means for introducing liquidfuel to said chamber; a connection with a source of compressed air toadmit said air to said chamber in timely relation to the admission ofthe fuel; and means for automatically controlling said air connectioncomprising an open ended valve-shell carried by the movable member; apiston valve therein controlling the passage of the air through saidshell, said valve having a stem, springs and coacting parts toreciprocate the stem and its valve by the movement of said member, atrip lever carried by said member to control the reciprocation of thevalve-stem, fixed stops for automatically operating the trip lever; andan electric ignition system actuated by the movement of said member toexplode the mixture of fuel and air in said combustion chamber.

7. In an internal-combustion-engine, the combination of a cylindermember and a piston member, one movable relatively to the other andforming between them a combustion chamber; means for introducing liquidfuel to said chamber, comprising a connection with a source of fuel, abarrel let into said connection, a piston to control the fuel passagethrough the barrel, a connection of said barrel with a source ofcompressed air to force the fuel therefrom into the combustion chamber,and means carried by the movable member to operate the piston; aconnection from a source of compressed air tofurnish said air to thecombustion chamber in timely relation to the admission thereto of thefuel; means for automatically controlling said last named connection bythe movement of the movable member; and an electric ignition systemactuated by the movement of said member to explode the mixture of fueland air in said combustion chamber.

8. An internal combustion engine, comprising a frame; a cylinder mountedin said frame for reciprocative movement relatively thereto and havingat one end a reduced bore; a piston fixed to the frame and mounted inthe cylinder, said piston having a pair of spaced heads fitting thelarger bore of the cylinder and forming, in conjunction with the ends ofsaid larger bore, a pair of air chambers, said piston having also athird head fitting in the reduced bore of the cylinder and forming, inconjunction with the base of said bore means for supplying to andexhausting from one of said air chambers, air to serve as a cushion; aconnection to supply to and ex,- haust from the other of said airchambers compressed air; means to control and regulate said compressedair connection; a connection for admitting compressed air to thecombustion clramber; means actuated by the movement of the cylinder toautomatically control said last named connection; means a combustionchamber; 7

operated by a compressed air connection for supplying liquid fuel to thecombustion chamber; means operated by the movement of the cylinder totimely control the admission of the fuel with relation to the admissionof the compressed air; and an electric ignition system actuated by themovement of the cylinder to explode the mixture of fuel and air in thecombustion chamber.

9. An internal combustion engine, comprising a frame having an interiorchamber forming a reservoir for compressed air; a cylinder mounted insaid frame for reciprocative movement relatively thereto and having atone end a reduced bore; a piston fixed to the frame and mounted in thecylinder, said piston having a pair of spaced heads fitting the largerbore of the cylinder and forming, in conjunction with the ends of saidlarger bore, a pair of air chambers, said piston having also a thirdhead fitting in the reduced bore of the cylinder and forming, inconjunction with the base of said bore, a combustion chamber; means forsupplying air to one of said air chambers to form a cushion andexhausting the same into the frame reservoir; a connection from thecompressed air reservoir of the frame to supply to and exhaust from theother of said air chambers, compressed air; means to control andregulate said compressed air connection; a connection from saidreservoir of the frame for supplying the combustion chamber withcompressed air; means actuated by the movement of the cylinder toautomatically control said last named connection; means for supplyingliquid fuel to the combustion chamber; a connection from the compressedair reservoir of the frame to operate said fuel supply means; meansoperated by the movement of the cylinder to timely control the admissionof the fuel with relation to the admission of the compressed air; and anelectric ignition system actuated by the movement of the cylinder toexplode the mixture of fuel and air in the combustion chamber.

10. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylindermember and a piston member relatively movable, said members being formedto provide a pair of chambers one at each limit of the stroke of themovable member, and a third chamber beyond said pair of chambers; meansfor introducing an air cushion to one of said pair of chambers andcompressed air to the other; means for introducing an explosive mixtureto the third chamber; and means for exploding said mixture in said thirdchamber.

11. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylindermember and a piston member relatively movable, said piston member havingthree spaced heads; means for introducing air under pressure between oneend of the cylinder and one of the piston heads; means for introducingair to the cylinder between the other two piston heads to form acushion; means for introducing an explosive mixture between the otherend of the cylinder and the third head of the piston; and means forexploding said mixture therebetween.

12. In an internal-combustion-engine, the combination of a reciprocativecylinder; a fixed piston having three spaced heads; means forintroducing air under pressure between one end of the cylinder and oneof the p1ston heads; means for introducing air to the cylinder betweenthe other two piston heads to form a cushion; means for introducing anexplosive mixture between the other end of the cylinder and the thirdhead of the piston; and means for exploding said mixture therebetween.

13. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a frame havingan interior reservoir for compressed air; a cylinder mounted and guidedin said frame for reciprocative movement relatively thereto; a pistonfixed to said frame and having three heads fitted in said cylinder;means for introducing air from the frame reservoir into the cylinderbetween one end thereof and one of the piston-heads; means for admittingair into the cylinder between the other two piston heads and exhaustingthe same into the frame reservoir; means for introducing air from theframe reservoir into the cylinder between its other end and the thirdpiston head; means for introducing liquid fuel into said last namedspace; and means for exploding the mixed air and fuel in said space.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES \V. VAN METER.

Witnesses:

WM. F. Boo'rH, D. B. RICHARDS.

